Gun barrel moving device

ABSTRACT

A barrel-moving device for guns which comprises a pneumatic counter-recoil cylinder having a hydraulically operated barrelmoving cylinder. A driver connects operatively the counter-recoil cylinder with a gun barrel. The barrel-moving cylinder is in communication with the counter-recoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically and a hydraulic connection conduit is disposed between the barrel-moving cylinder and the counter-recoil cylinder. Finally, a manually operated pump is effective selectively in two feeding directions and is disposed in the connection conduit.

United States Patent Klapdohr Feb. 1, 1972 [54] GUN BARREL MOVING DEVICEPrimary ExaminerSamuel W. Engle [72] Inventor. Hans Klapdohr,Dusseldorf, Germany Assistant Examiner stephen c Bentley [73] Assignee:Rheinmetall GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany Attorney-Ernest G. Montague [22]Filed. May 15, 1969 ABSTRACT [21 Appl No.: 824,852 i A barrel-movingdevice for guns which comprises a pneumatic counter-recoil cylinderhaving a hydraulically operated barrcl- U-S- moving cylinder A driverconnects operative)! the countcp [51] Int. Cl ..F4lf 19/14 recoilcylinder with a gun barreL The barrc| moving cylinder [58] held Search-m"89/42, 44144 177 is in communication with the counter-recoil cylinderhydraulically and pneumatically and a hydraulic connection conduit is[56] References C'ted disposed between the barrel-moving cylinder andthe counter UNITED STATES PATENTS recoil cylinder. Finally, a manuallyoperated pump is effective selectively in two feeding directions and isdisposed in the con- Powlett action conduit 339,589 4/1886 Spiller...89/43 1,074,566 9/ 1913 Dawson et al. ..89/43 1 Claims, 1 DrawingFigure PATENTEBFEB 1m 3.638.526

INVENTOR 18W m niv n GUN BARREL MOVING DEVICE The present inventionrelates to a gun barrel moving device in general, and to movable guns inwhich the gun barrel must be displaced for reasons of a better loaddistribution for the gun transportation from its firing position into arearward moving position, in particular.

For this purpose many particular gun barrel moving devices are provided,which move the barrel rearwardly either mechanically or by means of abarrel moving cylinder operated by means of a hydraulic pump. Thesedevices suffice in case of a low counterrecoil force and a shortdisplacement path, yet are, however, insufficient in case of greatercounterrecoil forces and longer displacement paths, because thecounterforces of the brake and counterrecoil cylinders, respectively,connected with the gun barrel become too great. For this reason, in mostinstances, the coupling means between the brake cylinder and thecounterrecoil cylinder.

respectively and the gun barrel has been separated, prior to theoperation of the barrel moving device. It is obvious, that this is verycumbersome for a fast position change of the gun, because the repeateduncoupling and coupling of the brake and counterrecoil devicerespectively with the gun barrel requires an appreciable amount of timein comparison.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel movingdevice, wherein the displacement of the gun barrel is simplified, sothat the process can be performed without greater wordking-andtime-expenditure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gun barrelmoving device, wherein in a gun with a pneumatic counterrecoil deviceand a hydraulically operated barrel moving cylinder it is brought about,that the barrel moving cylinder is connected with the counterrecoilcylinder hydraulically and pneumatically, and that in the hydraulicconnection conduit, a manually operating pump is disposed, whichoperates selectively in two feeding directions. By this arrangement, thecounterforce of the counterrecoil cylinder can be eliminated in a simplemanner and by operation of the manual pump, the gun barrel can be movedrearwardly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a gunbarrel moving device, wherein the structure and arrangement of thedevice is designed advantageously such, that the gas compression chamberof the counterrecoil cylinder is in communication with a gas compressionchamber disposed in front of the piston of the barrel moving cylinder,and wherein an oil storage chamber provided behind the piston of thebarrel moving cylinder is in communication with an oil pressure chamberdisposed in front of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder. By thisarrangement, it is brought about that, for instance, during pumping ofthe oil from the oil storage chamber of the barrel moving cylinder intothe oil pressure chamber in front of the piston of the counterrecoilcylinder, this piston is displaced in rearward direction, whereby thegas present in the gas compression chamber escapes into the gas storagechamber of the barrel moving cylinder, whereby the gun barrel is movedbackwardly by means of the piston rod secured to the breech. In case ofa desired opposite movement of the barrel, the feeding device of thepump, or in case of use of change valves, the feeding path must bereversed. Upon normal operation of the counterrecoil cylinder during thefiring, the hydraulic connection is separated by means of a change valveand the barrel moving cylinder is thereby shut off and the chamber infront of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder is connected with theatmosphere.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which theonly FIGURE is a schematic vertical section of one embodiment of the gunbarrel moving device including all auxiliary means.

The barrel moving device comprises a pneumatic counterrecoil cylinder 1,including a piston 2, the piston rod 3, of which is rigidly connectedwith a driver 4, of a gun barrel 5, and it comprises further a barrelmoving cylinder 6, with its flying piston 7. The piston 7 separates theinside of the barrel moving cylinder 6 into a rear oil storage chamber13 and a front gas storage chamber 15. The gas storage chamber 15 is incommunication with the gas storage chamber 14 of the counterrecoilcylinder 1 by means of a conduit 8. Furthermore, a conduit 9 isprovided, which leads from the oil storage chamber 13 to an oil pressurechamber 17 disposed in front of the piston 2 of the counterrecoilcylinder 1. In the conduit 9 is disposed a manually operated pump 10switchable into both directions of feeding, furthermore, a locking valve11 and a change valve 12. If now upon corresponding position of thevalves 11 and 12 the manually operated pump is operated and the feedingdevice corresponding with the arrow indicated next to the conduit 9, thehydraulic liquid is fed from the oil storage chamber 13 behind thepiston 7 of the barrel moving cylinder 6 into the oil pressure chamber17 in front of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder 1 and thereby,the piston 2 is displaced, whereby the gun barrel 5 is moved by means ofthe piston rod 3 and the driver 4. During return sliding of the piston2, the gas filling yields from the gas compression chamber 14 over thedirect conduit 8 into the gas storage chamber 15 in front of the piston7, which is displaced thereby in the same direction as the piston 2 inrearward direction.

By reversal of the feeding direction, it is brought about, that thehydraulic liquid is fed from the oil pressure chamber 17 back into theoil storage chamber 13 behind the piston 7, whereby due to escape of thepiston 7 in the gas pressure chambers 14 and 15 a pressure is built up,which displaces the piston 2 in its desired position in forwarddirection. If now the counterrecoil cylinder 1 should operate during thefiring in normal manner, the hydraulic connection of the two cylinders land 2 by means of the conduit 9 is interrupted, by locking the lockingvalve 11 and opening the change valve 12 to the atmosphere.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is tobe understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A barrel moving device, comprising:

a pneumatic counterrecoil cylinder having a hydraulically operatedbarrel moving cylinder;

a driver operatively connecting said counterrecoil cylinder with a gunbarrel;

said barrel moving being in communication with said counterrecoilcylinder hydraulically and pneumatically;

a hydraulic connection conduit between said barrel moving cylinder andsaid counterrecoil cylinder;

a manually operated pump effective selectively in two feeding directionsand disposed in said connection conduit; said counterrecoil cylinderdefines a first gas compression chamber;

said barrel moving cylinder defines a second gas compression chamber andincludes a first piston;

said second gas compression chamber being arranged in front of saidpiston;

said first gas compression chamber being in communication with saidsecond gas compression chamber;

said barrel moving cylinder defining additionally an oil storage chamberdisposed behind said piston;

said counterrecoil cylinder defines additionally an oil pressure chamberand includes a second reciprocating iston having a piston rod;

the latter is connected with said driver; and

said oil pressure chamber is disposed in front of said second piston andin communication with said oil storage chamber by said connectionconduit.

1. A barrel moving device, comprising: a pneumatic counterrecoilcylinder having a hydraulically operated barrel moving cylinder; adriver operatively connecting said counterrecoil cylinder with a gunbarrel; said barrel moving being in communication with saidcounterrecoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically; a hydraulicconnection conduit between said barrel moving cylinder and saidcounterrecoil cylinder; a manually operated pump effective selectivelyin two feeding directions and disposed in said connection conduIt; saidcounterrecoil cylinder defines a first gas compression chamber; saidbarrel moving cylinder defines a second gas compression chamber andincludes a first piston; said second gas compression chamber beingarranged in front of said piston; said first gas compression chamberbeing in communication with said second gas compression chamber; saidbarrel moving cylinder defining additionally an oil storage chamberdisposed behind said piston; said counterrecoil cylinder definesadditionally an oil pressure chamber and includes a second reciprocatingpiston having a piston rod; the latter is connected with said driver;and said oil pressure chamber is disposed in front of said second pistonand in communication with said oil storage chamber by said connectionconduit.